The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. John 10:2-4

What distinguishes a believer from an unbeliever?  Jesus, in John 10, pointed out that His sheep know Him, hear His voice, and follow Him.  They’re the ones He died to save, and when He called them, they responded in faith and repentance, receiving Him as their Lord and Shepherd.

But hearing Christ’s call to salvation is just the beginning of a lifetime of attentiveness as He leads and directs our steps.  Jesus told those who believed in Him, “If you continue in My Word, then you are truly My disciples (John 8:31).  It’s crucial that we recognize His voice and refuse any that contradict Him.  This is the essential part of “taking every thought captive.”

God’s voice is heard through Scripture.  That’s why making time to listen to Him through His Word is so important – it’s vital.  As we fill our mind with biblical truths, the Spirit uses them to teach, rebuke, correct, and train us in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).

Whatever you hear, always compare it with the Scriptures so you can differentiate between God’s truth and human logic or philosophies.  As we become more and more familiar with Christ’s voice, we need to be prepared to drop some of our preconceived ideas in order to align our thinking with His Word.